ZA200604102B - Tubing connection kit and method - Google Patents

Description

Tubing Connection Kit and Method

This invention concerns the connection of tubing components to pipes, aad has particular relevance to air-conditioning systems. : .

The global market for air-conditioning systemshas risen dramatically inthelast decade and looks set to continue to expand, for example into Eastern Burope. Currently, the meost advanced air- conditioning system in common use is the VRV or Vatiable Refrigerant Volume system. This systern comes in two types: “cooling only” which is a two-pipe system, or a three pipe system which performs cooling and heating providing heating through recognised heat-poump technology.

A network of pipes is installed around the building to supply refrigerant to the= relevant cooling coils (“air handlers”) in the required areas. Figure 1 shows a known apparatus —for assembly into such a network. A metal tubing component 1 is has as a bifurcated Y-shap=ed junction to be connected to a metal pipe 2. The tube: component 1 comprises several sections of different diameter, for example the first branch of the junction has two in-line sections X, and X,, while the second branch has three in-line sections: Y), Y, and Y;to enable the comp onent to be fitted to various standard, i.e. commercially accepted, sizes of pipe 2. When the co ponent is to be fitted, the diameter of pipe 2 is determined and the correct diameter section of the component 1. - isused to enable the pipe 2 to be accommodated within the section. In the figumre shown, section :

X, has the correct diameter to allow pipe 2 to be mserted within it. Ifhowever ipe 2 was wider, ‘then section X, would have to be used. Ira that case, the component would be cut off at section

X, to allow insertion of the pipe 2. To fix the pipe 2 within the end section of czomponent 1, the pipe and section are welded together. This is a cumbersome operation, espe=cially since it is

Tecessary to purge the weld region with nitrogen in order to prevent oxidatSon of the metal.

Accordingly, the connection of tubing component 1 to pipe 2 is intricate amnd subsequently €xpensive and prone to error and fire risk, and takes an excessively long time to complete. "- Ttis an object of the present invention to provide a connection kit and method which overcome -the above problems. This is achieved by the use of cold jointing means with a. correspondingly resized tubing component. : oo

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention there is yorovided a kit of parts

Comprising 4 tubing component having at least two in-line sections wwith different extemal diameters and a set of connection means, each connection means havin g dimensions such that it may be joined to the tubing component at a respective section.

Preferably, each connection means comprises a locking ring.

The kit of parts may be used in fabricating an air-conditioning system. ) bx accordance with a second aspect of the present invention there is - provided a method of c-onnecting a tubing component to a pipe comprising the steps of: providing a tubing component with at least two in-line =sections with different .external diameters; selecting a section with a substantially similar diameter t-o that of the pipe; ifthe selected section is not at an end of the tubing compor=ient, cutting the tubing component in the vicinity of the selected section so that time selected section is at an end of the tubing component; ) : . providing a set of connection means in a range of sizes; selecting a connection means of suitable dimensions for _joining to the selected section; and joining the selected connection means to the tubing component at the selected section. }

Pareferably, each connection means cornprises a locking ring.

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the following figures, in which:-

FT gure 1 shows a conventional pipe assembly;

Fiz gure 2 shows unconnected app aratus according to an embodiment of the —present invention; and

Fi_gure 3 shows the apparatus of the embodiment in a connected state.

a

Referring now to Figures 2 and 3, an assembly is shown according to an embodiment of the in~vention. Starting with Figure 2, agairn it is desired to connect a tubing corrmponent 1* to a pipe 2. Thetubing component 1' again comprises several sections of various exte=rnal diameters, for ex ample the in-line sections X,', X;', X;' and X4 of a first branch and in-line sections ‘al Y,' and

Ya tof 2 second branch. However, with his embodiment the diameters of the= sections are set to be standard, i.e. commercially accepted and available, sizes. Since the pipe 2 1.s also of a standard’ dizameter, it is possible to select a secti on which has the same diameter as the pipe 2. In the ex ample shown in the figure, section X,' has the same diameter as the pipe_ and therefore the coxmpounent is cut at section X, as shown. Clearly it is also possible to sele=ct a section of the seczond branch to enable this branch to be connected also. * Commnection between the component 1' znd pipe 2 is achieved by use of a co—xnection means 3, wlaich in the present embodiment composes a locking ring. A suitable locking ring for this puapOse is for example manufactured by- Vulkan Lokring, Rohrverbindungen. GmbH & Co. KG of THerne, Germany. Connection is achieved by inserting the ends of the pipe arad component into the= locking ring as shown, the ends besing covered with a sealing preparation beforehand if necessary. A compression device is there used to squeeze the two end rings 4 ofthe locking ring together, which compresses the ends and. holds them tightly and sealingly witl qin the connection me=ans. The compression device will presferably comprise a manually operables tool, which uses a raatchet arrangement to assist the user In forcing the rings together. A powered compression dewice is also available, and both of th ese devices are manufactured by Vulkan Lokring for example. The connected assembly is sh own in Figure 3.

Thee advantage of using such a connection means is that the join can be done cold, i.e. without welding, thus reducing the complexity, time and cost of the assembly operati on. Furthermore, no expensive or complex equipment is raeeded to fit the connection means.

A plurality of connection means of different sizes will be provided, allowing the tubing cormponent to be fitted to a variety of sizes of pipe by appropriate selection of component width section and connection means. ‘ a. p

Al though the invention has been described with reference to the esmbodiments above, there are many other modifications and alternatives possible within the scope of the claims.

For example, an~y suitable cold connection means may be used in place of the 1 ocking ring.

Claims (3)

1. A kit of parts comprising a tubin_g component having at least two in-line sections with different external diameters and a set ©f connection means, each coranection means having dimensions such that it may be joined to the tubing component at a respective section.

2. A it according to Claim 1, wherein each connection means commprises a locking ring.

3. A kit of parts according to any pre ceding claim, for use in fabricat. ing an air-conditioning system. : ‘ : 4, A method of connecting a tubing component to a pipe comprisimg the steps of: providing a tubing component with at least two in-line =sections with different - external diameters; selecting a section with a substantially similar diameter two that of the pipe; ifthe selected section is ncatat an end of the tubing comporent, cutting the tubing component in the vicinity of the selected section so that thee selected section'is at an end of the tubing comp onent; providing a set of connect-ion means in a range of sizes; selecting a connection me zns of suitable dimensions for Joining to the selected section; and : joining the selected conne=ction means to the tubing com—ponent at the selected section. oo IE 5: A method according to Claim 4, ~wherein each connection mean_s comprises a locking Ting.